The war of 1870 shaped the Lorraine region, the scene of a merciless struggle between France and Prussia. The town of Gravelotte, which was the scene of fierce fighting in August 1870, is now home to the Museum of the War of 1870 and the Annexation, the only museum in Europe dedicated to the memory of this war. Other major sites are well worth a visit to gain a better understanding of the military issues of the period. Such is the case of Bourlémont Fort, an impressive vestige of the defensive system devised by General Séré de Rivières following the annexation of Alsace-Lorraine. At the Citadelle de Bitche, a masterpiece of military architecture, you can relive the events of the historic siege of 1870-1871 in life-size, in an incredible cinematic recreation!

The Meuse is home to many memorial sites dedicated to the First World War. Verdun is a deeply moving symbol of this. West of Metz, annexed by Germany in 1870, and Nancy, still French, the town stands out for the intensity of the fighting that raged there, particularly during the infamous Battle of Verdun in 1916. Situated in the heart of the former battlefield, the Verdun Memorial gives you the chance to immerse yourself in the daily lives of the soldiers, the famous "poilus", thanks to an exceptional scenography. Douaumont Fort, the most powerful structure in the stronghold of Verdun, and the Douaumont Ossuary, a place of meditation, are also emblematic places of remembrance in Lorraine. Finally, guided tours of the battlefield or the town of Verdun will help you get to the heart of the matter, so you don't miss out on any of the highlights of the Great War.

A major place of remembrance of the Second World War, the Maginot Line is a powerful reminder of France's defeat in 1940. Conceived in response to the trauma of previous conflicts, the Maginot Line was intended to protect Lorraine from further invasion. History has decided otherwise, but it remains no less fascinating. Discover some of its impressive fortifications, such as the large artillery works at Hackenberg, Michelsberg and Simserhof in Moselle. Other places of remembrance in Lorraine highlight the 1939-1945 war, such as the American military cemetery at Saint-Avold, the largest in Europe dedicated to this conflict.